Who Says?

Who says you can't go back?
Been all around the world and as a matter of fact
There's only one place left, I want to go
Who says you can't go home?

~Jon Bon Jovi

Yesterday, we took the girls and two of their cousins out on the boat tubing.  The weather was iffy but we decided it was worth the effort given how often the forecast is right.  We hooked up with some friends who live on the lake and  just enjoyed the beautiful (see...forecast WRONG) day.  The girls each got a shot at tubing before we parked the boat and from there they swam, using the tube to play king of the hill.

Around 4pm my BIL called thinking to come get his girls and instead we invited him to join us.  We drove over and picked him up at the launch.  The girls decided they wanted to tube again so we took off, with all 4 of the girls riding a 2 person tube. 

As we listened to the screams of delight as the girls struggled to stay on the tube while laughing hysterically, my BIL turned to us and said..."I am SO glad you guys moved back."  Both my husband and I got a little choked up.

So you understand, we moved back to Minnesota almost 14 years ago, in August of 1996, so two of the four girls on that tube weren't even a gleam in our eye.  And we moved for a variety of reasons.  We were living in Maryland and after our oldest daughter was born, we realized that we didn't want to raise our children away from family.  We also didn't care for the  "pace"  of the east coast.  While I would have been happier moving closer to my parents, the likelihood of finding jobs in such a small town (upstate NY) was slim.  So, back (for my husband) to Minnesota we moved.  And have never regretted that decision (OK...maybe the odd day in January, when winter looks to be never ending and  the temps are in the sub zeros...).

How do you regret your children being exposed to an uncle who is willing to do this?

Or idyllic summer days doing this?

Home...an interesting word.  As I wrote this post, it occurred to me, I have lived in Minnesota longer than I have lived anywhere in my life (yes...I have been all around the world).  So, I think it's fair to say that Minnesota is home.  Who says?  Who indeed.